I did it the easy way. I put down newspaper about 10-15 layers thick - wet it in a bucket as I went. Then I put compost on the next layer, then mulch on top. That was it. I just made sure to overlap the newspaper real well. You can use leaves if you do this in the fall then the mulch compost and mulch on top of that. I only worry about the grass clippings sprouting, so leave what you have and put some thick layers of newspaper on top, then you can see if you can find some free compost or just put a bunch of hardwood mulch on top. Then all you have to do is let it sit until spring (if done in the fall) then plant right through it. You might still see some newspaper, but that is okay as it will eventually decay or the earthworms will eat it. I did a large portion of my frontyard this way one fall and I was planting in the spring. I had very little grass coming through. The only thing to be careful of is trees. You will need to carefully remove the grass by hand within 12-18 inches of the trunk, then from there out you can start with the newspaper. Good luck!

momofjandj: I don't know what area of DFW you are in but the city of Ft Worth has FREE, yes FREE compost - you don't have to be a resident or anything. You just go there in a truck and back-up and start shoveling. I got it for the first time this past pring - and it has been wonderful stuff. Even if your not in FTW - worth the drive if you need alot.
this is from their website "can be obtained from the parking lot at Rolling Hills Park between the Soccer Fields and Rolling Hills Tree Farm at 2525 Joe B. Rushing Road. Citizens should bring sturdy bags or other containers, shovels, and work gloves. Remember to cover your load if using a pickup or trailer. Employees are not available to aid in bagging and loading of mulch"

Here is a link that might be useful: Fort Worth FREE mulch/compost

Thanks denisew! I think I made a mistake...I didn't wet the newspaper first...totally forgot! I guess it will still work, right? Is there any chance that I could plant anything in the fall?!
scuba-gal...Thanks!!! GREAT info! I'm in Arlington so it's not too far to drive for FREE COMPOST! I'll be going soon!

I used this method in Houston to gain raised beds. And then I realized a load of pea gravel makes a good base and added height. Anyway, it worked amazingly well. I did one thing differently though and that is I heavily fertilized the grassy area under the wet newspaper---13-13-13. That way when you eventually dig down into the base soil, it will not be so depleted of nutrients, it gives the grass a double whammy, and it hastens the composting of grass and it's roots. Unless you have sandy loam this is absolutely the best way to make new beds. I also covered the beds with black plastic when I got them to the height I wanted and overwintered them that way until I was ready to plant. You can add anything to the compost other than carnivorous animal matter, even straw, sand, soil, wood ashes, fertilizer, shredded paper, coffee grounds (for acid lovers), etc. And water it often. If you are actually composting kitchen scraps, manure, etc in place and the huge Texas bugs start to move in, sprinkle it with insecticide granules (I eventually had to do this).

Okay....obviously I really rushed the lasagna method for my beds! I must have missed the part about letting them "sit and cook". I alternated wet newspaper with composted humus and cow manure about 4-6 layers high to make raised beds, planted, and then mulched around the plants. Everything's growing just fine. Why are we supposed to wait? Hhhhmmm??

I did the same thing as kateyes, and my bed is doing great! I did this last summer about this time. Hot as you know what, but it was worth the effort. I have huge earthworms in that bed. The soil seems to be very rich! Vicki

Don't worry about the fact that you didn't wet your newspaper. The only reason I did that was so it wouldn't blow away and I could lay down big areas before topping with the compost and mulch. Any rain or sprinkler action will hold it down, but the key is the thickness. I didn't count, but I just laid down whole sections at a time without unfolding them and I guess many of them were between 15-20 pages thick folded over. I wouldn't go any thicker than that. Water and air will go through the paper, but at the same time will smother the grass.

I waited to plant because that is what Dottie Woodson (TAMU Extension Agent for Tarrant County) said to do on the segment I saw her on Paul James's Gardening by the Yard show when she was talking about the lasagne gardening method. She said if you poke a hole too soon, the grass will start growing through it. I even e-mailed her asking for a few more details, specifically about how close to get to the tree trunks. She said to wait a season, so I did. It gave me more time to look at the bed and plan what I wanted to go in there.

For what it's worth, the waiting time is also for the breakdown of uncomposted material (veggie scraps, grass clippings, ect). You get to jump ahead and plant sooner if you use compost to build the lasagna.

Pam

I think the only reason to wait and cook is to compost any raw veggie matter (only takes a few weeks here) and also to make sure the grass and roots are really dead. Otherwise, when you dig down to plant say a gal container plant you might bring the grass or roots to the surface again. The key is to not allow the grass runners to once again get hold. I was just flaggergasted to see how easy this method is after years of double digging! Let this Texas heat work for you!